Water control



Oct. 29, 1929.

w. B. cuFFoRD WATER CMTROL Filed Nov. 23. 1926 Patented Oct. 29, 1929UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER n. cmrronn, or CAMBRIDGE,MASSACHUSETTS, 'AssIGN'on" T environ]: MANUFACTURING 00., or BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS, A conronn'rron on DELA- WARE WATER CONTROL Applicationfiled November 23, 1926. Serial No. 150,368.

The present invention relates to improvements in temperature controlledapparatus for employment in the cooling circulation of internalcombustion motors. One object of the invention is to improve andsimplify apparatus of this character in a manner to afford the leastinterference to the flow of water therethrough, and to provide a unitwhich may be constructed and assembled with a minimum of ease.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a constructionof this type, in which the openingtemperature and travel of the valve,in moving from closed to full open position, may be duplicated inproduction without introducing variable factoradue to variations in thecharacter of the bellows, filling medium, etc.

With this and other objects in view, the various features of theinvention consists in certain novel features of construction,combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described andclaimed, the advantages of which will be obvious to those skilled in theart from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form of theinvention,

Fig. 1 represents an elevation partly'in seetion of theimprovedwater-control and Fig. 2 is atop plan view of the apparatus shown inFig. 1.

The apparatus shown in the illustrated embodiment of the inventioncomprises essentially an open skeletonframe consisting of rods disposedat uniform intervals in the general outline of a cage, and bellowsrigidly connected at one end to the skeleton support and having a valveconnected to its opposite free I end. The valvecooperates with a seatformed upon a disk, which in turn is rigidly locked to the rods of theskeleton support interme' diate their ends. As indicated moreparticularly in the drawing, the skeleton support comprises a series oflongitudinal ribs 10 (four in number) disposed at uniform intervals atthe corners of a square. Each two of these ribs is formed by a bentrod,preferably of brass or similar material, which, as indic at: ed moreparticularly in Fig. 1, is bent to form a generally U-shaped memberhaving inward,

ly extendingportions ,or shoulders 12 and upwardly inclined portions 14terminating in a crown portion 16. The opposite legs of the U-shapedmember form the enclosing ribs 10. The complementary U-shaped member,

indicated in section in Fig. 1, is slightly modified n form'from themember shown in plan. The complementary 'member'is provided with theportions 12 and 14, but the portion forming the crown 16 is depressed at18 to interlock with the crown portion16 and rigidly brace thetwornernbers when in assembled position against lateral movement- Thelegs or ribs 10,. at their lower ends are connected to a flat disk20which is interlocked I with the end of a metallic bellows 22. Thisinterlocking of the disk with the bellows is accomplished in theformation of the bellows,

the latter being bulged outwardly at 24 to form a locking fold, which inconjunction with the bellows fold 25 rigidly locks the disk to thebellows themselves. The disk adj acent'its outer margin 'is'staked toeach one of the ribs 10 by oppositely disposed tongues 28 and 29 formedintegrally with the rods, as indicated. The upper free end of thebellows in the usualmanner is provided with a stem30 carrying a flatvalve 32, which has an integral hub 34 threaded to cooperate with thethreaded portion 36 of thestem and permit adjustmentof the valvelengthwise of the stem to secure theproper opening tem perature. of thevalve after assembly'of the latter in the cage. The valve maypreferably.

be locked in adjusted position on the stem'in any desired'nianner, as bylocking nut 38,

which in additionmay be secured by solder ing' to the stem. Y The disk{valve 32 seats upon a raised flange 40 formed integral with a partitionmemberlQ which, asindicated, is

supported upon the rods 10 intermediate opposite ends of, the cage andstaked thereto byjtongues 414:. 'With this construction, a rise a in thewater temperature causes expansion of the bellows, due to thevaporizable l qu d contained therein, andelevates'the valve fromitsseat. The opening movements ofthe valve landexpansionofthe bellows arelimited by engagement of the upper face'of the valve with the shoulderportions 12 formed upon the rods. Furthermore, the vertical portions toclamp between the flanges of an enclosing head and be bolted in positionthrough the provision of bolt-holes 50.

i It; will be evident that this construction may be simply andinexpensively constructed and assembled, as the valve, partition memberand supporting disk 20 are simply stampings and the tw ll-shaped membersmay be developed by forming dies. Thereafter the several parts arereadily assembled by thrusting the two U-shaped members through thepartition disk and supporting disk, staking the disks and memberstogether so that the disks occupy a predeteri'ninedpositio engthwiseofthe members and cage form-ed 'eby.

It will be furthermore evident that with this construction apredetermined opening temperature of the valve ma 1 be obtainedindependently if minor variations in the belows and the cage assembly.To this end the valve, is loosely threaded upon the stem with the cageassembled thereabout, and the bellows elevated'to the desired openingtemperature. Thereupon the Valve is adjusted on the stem until it isseparated from the seat by the requisite or desired amount. Subsequentto th1s'len thw1se adjustment of the valve on the stem, it maybe lockedin position through the locking nut, solder, or other convenientexpedient. It will be evident, therefore, that although the position ofthe valve upon the stem 30 may vary in order to secure fixed openingpoint independent of varia tions in the bellows, this adjustment of thevalve wlll not many event vary the travel of the valve between the seat40 and theoverhead. stops 12. twill be furthermore evident that withthis construction the valve is readily accessible for adjustment, and infull open; position the pressure of the valve against the stops placestherods 10 n ten- SlOn. 1

TVhatI claim is: 1'. Temperature-controlled apparatus comprising agenerally U-shaped frame formed from a rod, metallic bellows rigi llyconnect ed with the frame adjacent one end, a partition connected withthe legs of the U-shaped frame ad acent theopposite end, a valve confnected with the bellows, and shoulders formed upon the frame beyond thevalve designed to limit the movement of the valve away from thepartition upon expansion of the bellows.

p a plurality of U-shaped frames dis- )osed an ularlv with relation toone another means for causing the frames to interlock at the closedportions, a partition rigidly connected to the legs of the frame inproximity to the closed portions, metallic bellows rig idly connected tothe legs of the frames at the opposite ends, and avalve connected to thebellows and limited in movement by contact with the closed portions ofthe U-shaped frames. 7

l. Temperature-controlledapparatus comprising a metallic bellows, a stemprojecting from one end of the bellows,a disk valve connected to thestem, a supporting member rig id ly locked to the opposite end of thebellows, series of supporting rods extending lengthwise of the bellowsrigidly connected at one end to the support, a partition member rigidlyconnected to the rods adjacent the opposite end having a valve openingvformed therein, and limiting stops formed upon the rods designed tolimit the movement ofthe valve away from the opening.

5. Temperature-controlled apparatus comprising a metallic bellows, asupporting cage rigidly connected with one end of the bellows, apartition member having a valve opening provided at the opposite end ofthe cage, a valve adjustably connected with the free end ofthe bellowsand closing the opening, and means for predeterminmg the full openposition of the valve unaffected by the adjustment of the valve relativeto the stem.

6. Temperature-controlled apparatus comprising a supporting cage, abellows fixedly connector. to the cage atone end, a partition having avalve opening fixedly connected to the cage at the opposite :"ee end thebellows, a stem projecting from the free end of the bellows, avalve adjustably mounted on the stem, a stop locat'edata predetermined distancebeyond the valve opening and servprising an open cage, bellows connectedto the cageat one end, a valve sea surrounding an opening at theopposite end of the cage, a stem projecting from the free end of thebellows, a valve'mounted upon the and adjustable lengthwise thereon forpredetermining the temperature operative to actuate the valve, a stoppositioned beyont o. Tempcrature-controlled apparatus comthe valve seatand at a predetermined distance therefrom to gauge the travel of thevalve from closed to full open position independently ofvariations inthe adjustment of the valve lengthwise of the stem.

8. Temperature-controlled apparatus comprising a cage, a bellowsconnected to the cage at one end, a valve seat surrounding an openingadjacent the opposite end of the cage, a valve connected to the free endof the bellows and movabletherewith, a rod projecting from the cakebeyond the valve seat and having a stop portion in contact with thevalve to determine the full open position.

9. Temperature controlled apparatus adaptable for circulatory systems ofmotor vehicles comprising a metallic bellows, a supporting cage rigidlyconnected with one end of the bellows, a partition member adapted .to besecured between the adjacent edges of the water circulating conduits andhaving an opening shaped to constitute a valve seat, a disk valveadjustably connected with the free end of the bellows for closing theopening upon a contraction of the bellows and removing the valve fromits seat upon an expansion of the bellows, and a stop means engageablewith the valve and operable to determine the full open position of thevalve.

10. A device of the class described com prising, a circular plate havingan opening therethrough, a plurality of rods passing through the plate,and permanently secured thereto, said rods extending at each end beyondthe sides of the plate, a charged corrugated metal bellows connected tothe rods at one end and lyingbetween the same. a stem extending from theopposite end of the bellows through the opening in said plate, and avalve attached to the end of the stem at the side of the plate oppositewhere the bellows is located, said valve in one position closing theopeningthrough said plate and in its movementstoward and away from theplate being guided by said rods.

11. A construction of the class described comprising, a plate having anopening there'- through, a plurality. of rods passing through the plateoutside of the opening and permanently secured to'the plate, said rodsextending to each sideot said plate, a thermostatically'expansible andcontractible element located between the rods at one; side of the plateandattached at one end to said rods, a stem attached to the opposite endof said element passingthrough the opening in the plate, a valve securedto the stem at the side of the plate opposite that at which the elementis located, said valve being larger than the opening through the plateand closing said opening when in one position, and means extendingacross the said rods located at be same site of the plate with the valveagainst which the valve engages on its movement away from said 'openingfa prede termined distance.

12; In aconstructlon ofthe class described, a plate having an openingtherethrough, a

pair'of U-shaped'members having the legs of the U extending throughtheplatefoutside, of

said opening and permanently secured to said plate with'the connectingcross members of the U-shaped memberslocated a distance from saidplate,athermostatically expansible and contractible element located betweenthe legs of said, U-shaped members and connected at r one end thereto, astem extending from the opposite end of said element through the openingin'the plate, a valve secured tothe stem at the opposite side of theplate and at the same side as the cross members of the, U-shapedmembers, said valve being guided in its movement by said U-shapedmembers and limited in its outward movement by said cross members. i

18. A construction otthe class described A comprising, a plate having anopening there through, a plurality of rods connected to said plate andextending on opposite sides thereof, a thermostatically expansible iandcontractible corrugated metal bellows located between said rods at oneside of the plate and attached at one end thereto, a stem extending fromthe opposite end of the bellows through the opening in said plate,"and avalve secured to the end of the Stern on the opposite'side of the plateand guidedin its movements by the rods projecting from said oppositeside of the i v plate.

with means located a distance outward from the plate against which thevalve engages to limit the movement of the valve away from said plate.

15. A device of the class described comprising, a plate having anopening therethrough, I

avalveto close the opening, a stem to which said valve isconnected, acharged corrugated metal bellows to oneend of which the stem isconnected, means for anchoring the opposite end of the bellowswithrespect to the plate,

same in its movements as the bellows expands.

16. A construction containing the elements in combination defined inclaim 15, combined.

with means connecting the said rods and serving to interpose as a stopagainst movement 1'00 A construction containing the elements 1ncombmatlon defined 1n claim 13, combined of the valve away from saidopening the plate beyond a predetermined position.

17. Temperature controlled I apparatus" comprising a bellows thermostat,a supportingdevice fixedly connected with one end of the thermostat,,apartition member having a valve opening mounted beyond the opposite freeend of the'bellows thermostat, a stem j projecting from the free end ofthe thermo-s stats, a valve adjustably connected to the stem, and ameans for insuring a predetermined V and constant travel of the valvefrom cle sed to full open position independently of the 5 relativeposition to which the valve may be adjusted with respect to the stem.

WALTER B. CLIFFORD. V

